Eleanor
was scheduled to turn 12 on the 29th, two days before Halloween. It
would be a two-and-a-half-day passage from American Samoa to the Kingdom of Tonga.
She watched the calendar carefully.

A
weather window appeared, we were all healthy, and our business in American Samoa
was over. It was Wednesday the 28th. Windy declared it time to go.

“Worst
birthday ever.” I joked.

“DAD!
Seriously, my birthday’s going to suck.”

Windy
leaned in to assure. “We’ll still celebrate.”

“But
Tina and Shane won’t be there—and we’re going to be at sea for Halloween…”

I
saw an opening, “Being at sea will be better than being in Tonga, they don’t
celebrate Halloween there.”

Underway to Tonga, Frances
writing in one of her journals,
wearing Halloween cat ears.

“What?
Dad, stop.”

So
the first 24 hours, force four on the beam, passage heaven. The next day, we
woke Eleanor with a couple gifts and I made a special birthday breakfast with
eggs and the veggie sausage we were able to buy in American Samoa. Windy
chopped up a fresh Papaya. Then things went downhill.

In
the middle of making the lemon tart that Eleanor requested, we ran out of propane.
I’d gambled that we’d have enough to get us to Tonga.

“Dad!”

“It’s
okay, your birthday’s over anyway.”

“What?”

“We
just crossed the International Date Line; it’s now the 30th.”

“Mom,
seriously?”

“Uh,
yeah. Tomorrow’s Halloween.”

“Uhn…my
birthday’s gone…and how are we going to trick-or-treat?”

“We
have candy.” Windy said.

“But
there are no other boats.”

“Just
keep coming back to us,” I suggested, “‘Trick or treat! Trick or treat! Trick
or treat!’”

“Oh
my god—worst birthday ever, and worst Halloween.”

I’ve
got to say that Eleanor’s a trooper, that most of her sentiment is tongue and
cheek. In fact, I think she thinks it’s kind of cool that she got to celebrate
her birthday under such exotic circumstances.

“Next
year can we at least sail the other direction so I can have two birthdays—or two
Halloweens?”

--MR

Frances walking along a pretty stretch of coastline
near Pago Pago.

Viewing Leone from remnants of an abandoned home.
This will be the last year Windy is taller than her oldest child.

A rugged stretch of coastline.

So far, the only photo of me I public wearing one of my
lava lavas.

The girls discovering a puddle with thousands of pollywogs
on a hike with Britney and Matt of Tipsea.

Underway to Tonga, Frances looking for hidden candy. We
did an onboard Easter-Halloween mash-up in lieu of
trick-or-treating.

The birthday girl underway, enjoying fresh papaya from a
half-coconut.

“It’s okay, your birthday’s over anyway.” That is classic Captain Dad, right there. That sort of observation eventually got me dropped in rank from Skipper to simply, Bad Dad. I hope the girls can get together when you are back in the states. Thinking of you guys all the time.

Thank you for taking the time to comment; we look forward to reading your feedback. Don't forget that you may also contact us directly at delviento@hotmail.com (please type DEL VIENTO in the subject line)

Selling Your Writing

Voyaging With Kids

“If you’re thinking of cruising—full time or part time—you’ve got to read this book. Even if you don’t have kids aboard!” Carolyn Shearlock, author of The Boat Galley Cookbook

Follow by Email

In our twenties, we traded our boat for a house and our freedom for careers. In our thirties, we lived the American dream. In our forties, we woke and traded our house for a boat and our careers for freedom. And here we are.